Brossoit's time in WHL has him prepared for next level

I wouldn’t be here today without those runs. It teaches you how to stay focused and how to make it to the next level. After a while, you start to get more and more confident. - Laurent Brossoit

CALGARY, AB -- The Edmonton Oil Kings’ motto last season was “Unfinished Business”. Those two words were plastered on their website, inside Rexall Place and was the motivation for the 2013 campaign.

The slogan stems from the Oil Kings winning the WHL Championship the previous year, but falling short in the Memorial Cup. Hence “Unfinished Business”.

And they came mighty close to completing that goal. The Oil Kings were two wins away from winning the WHL Championship for the second straight year, and another berth in the Memorial Cup.

The goaltender for both of those extended runs – Laurent Brossoit, the Calgary Flames sixth round draft choice from 2011.

That part of his career is finished, he’s signed his pro contract and ready to move onto the next step of his career.

"So far, it’s the greatest time of my life," Brossoit recently told CalgaryFlames.com. "I wouldn’t trade a memory for it all, and I’m pretty lucky to have the team that I did to go to the finals twice in a row and win one.

"Not a lot of guys can say that they’ve done that so I’m just fortunate to have the career that I’ve had, especially in the WHL."

It was a stellar WHL career for the Port Alberni, BC native. He accumulated 88 regular season wins, compared to just 33 losses, and picked up 30 extra wins in the playoffs against the toughest competition the western league has to offer, including Portland Winterhawks Ty Rattie, Seth Jones and current Flames Sven Baertschi.

"I wouldn’t be here today without those runs," Brossoit said. "It teaches you how to stay focused and how to make it to the next level. After a while, you start to get more and more confident.

"It’s what it takes to get to the next level, it’s dialing it in when you need to and playing under pressure. Making the big saves when you need to."

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 200 lbs. netminder posted a 2.25 GAA and .917 save percentage while leading the Oil Kings to top spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I’m trying not to think too far ahead. I’m trying to play right now and wherever my career takes me, it takes me. It’s a win-win whether I’m in Calgary, or in Abbotsford, I’ll be happy wherever. I’ll work my bag off and see where I go."

And even though he left the Oil Kings with a little unfinished business, that time prepared him for whatever professional life will toss at him.

"I learned what it takes to get to the next level. Whether it’s work ethic or just little knicks and knacks in the crease. You just get used to the pace of the pro hockey and the next level."